Refrigerator control



Aug. 26, 1941- c. J. WERNER 2,254,112

REFRIGERATOR CONTROL Fi led Sept. 15, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 1 2 INVENTOR CALVIN J. Wanna:

' fmmmm ATTORNEYS Aug. 26, 1941- c. J. WERNER REFRIGERATOR CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15-, 1938 E m mm m J m m w m 6 .7

1941- c. J. WERNER 2,254,112

REFRIGERATOR CONTROL Filed Sept. 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR CALVIN J. WERNER BYWQMW ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 26, 1941 REFRIGERATOR CONTROL Calvin J. Werner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1938, Serial No. 229,995

16 Claims. (01. 200-83) This invention relates to improvements in controlling devices particularly adapted for use in connection with electrically operated refrigerators or the like.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a unitary controlling device for an electrically operated refrigerator, said device operating automatically to effect control of electric circuits in one instance in response to predetermined temperature conditions within the refrigerator, in another, to protect the electrical system. of the device against damage by an excessive current flow, and in still another instance provides a manual control for initiating and terminating operation of the device as well as adjusting the automatic temperature control so that the refrigerator will automatically be brought into and out of operation at the desired temperatures.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a control device of simple structure and design for an electric refrigerator, various elements of the device being so constructed and assembled that several of them will act mechanically through another to effect their control, each element, however, being functionallyindependent from the other.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

This unitary controlling device comprises a single housing adapted to be-assembled in an electric refrigerator particularly of the household type, and in and on which are mounted the several devices as listed below and which provide control as described;

(A) A switch, which may be termed the"conthe light switch, independent of the control.

switch and which is actuated by the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, to close and open, respectively, the circuit through an elec-' tric bulb within the refrigerator.

(C) A socket for receiving an electric light bulb for illuminating the interior of the refrigerator. 1

(D) A thermo-electric reponsive device, shown as an electrical conductor for the control switch which is adapted to effect operation of the said control switch in accordance with current flow therethrough so that an excessive flow, in case the motor should become stalled, or overloaded and which would tend to burn out or damage the motor, will affect said thermo-electric responsive device causing it to actuate the control switch to open the motor circuit. This thermo-electric responsive device is adapted also to actuate the control switch to open the circuit through the starting winding only of the electric motor in response to a predetermined interval of heavy current flow through the motor for starting purposes.

(E) A thermo-pressure responsive device actuated by changes of temperature within the re-- frigerator and, being mechanically connected to the thermo-electric responsive device, is consequently adapted to actuate the control switch to open and close the circuit through the electric motor in accordance with such temperature changes within the refrigerator. In this instance the thermo-electric device acts merely as a mechanical connection between the thermopressure device and the "control switch.

(F) A manual control device which has portions rotatable and adapted to act through the thermo-electric device mechanically, to actuate the control switch for initiating or terminating operation of the electric motor and also to adjust the thermo-pressure device to render it effective to start and stop the refrigerator within the desired range of temperature. The manual control device also has portions not only ro- I tatable, but also longitudinally movable by the refrigerator door being opened and closed, said portion controlling the light'switch so that it is turned on and off in response to the said opening and closing of the refrigerator door.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a household refrigerator equipped with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved controlling device adapted to be assembled within the refrigerator.

Fig. .3 is a sectional view oi the control device taken substantially along the line 3 -3 of Fig. 4 certain parts being shown in elevation for the sake of clearriess. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the directionof the arrows 55 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 615. a view similar to Fig. 5, certain parts of the control device, however, being moved to a different position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a detailed fragmentary view of the light switch portion of the device.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the control button of the device.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuits and connections particularly in their respective positions when the temperature control of the refrigerator has actuated the switch to open the electric circuits.

Fig. 12 shows the circuit connections diagrammatically when completed for starting purposes.

Fig. 13 shows the electrical circuits during normal running operation.

Fig. 14 diagrammatically shows the electrical circuits when the switch has been actuated manually to open all the circuits.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates as a whole an electric refrigerator of the household type, comprising a cabinet 2| provided with a door 22. Within this cabinet are two compartments, the lower compartment shown closed and designated by the numeral 23, in which is positioned the usual compressor, electric motor and other devices making up the refrigerator apparatus.

The upper compartment designated by the numeral 24 includes the freezing unit 25 provided with freezing coils 26 and trays 21.

The present invention, as has been stated, relates to a control device for an electrically operated refrigerator. This control device, referred to as a whole by the numeral 38 in Fig. 2, is shown applied to the freezing unit 25 of Fig. 1 in such a manner that the control button 82 of the device may be engaged by the door 22 when it is closed and shifted longitudinally into one position, and when the door is opened this control button may again move longitudinally into its normal position. This shifting of the control button 32 from one position into another by the door 22 operates a switch to open and close the circuit through the electric light-bulb 54 secured in the socket 35 of the control device, this electric light bulb being provided for purposes of illuminating the interior of the compartment 24 of the refrigerator when the door 22 is opened.

As has been mentioned in the preamble, the unitary controlling device comprises a single housing designated by .the numeral 40 in Figs.

2 and 3. This housing has a portion 4|, of any suitable insulating material, secured thereto, housing 4| providing the socket 35 adapted to receive the electric light bulb 34 as shown in Fig. 1. Terminals 42 and 43 are provided in this insulat ng portion 4|, these terminals leading to the electric light socket 35.

Two other terminals 44 and 45 are supported by the insulating portion 4| of the casing, these terminals leading into the interior portion of the housing and providing the stationary conta Pts 46 and 41 respectively of the control switch.

The type of control switch shown in this ap- "Hea -i n is similar in character to that illusd. scribed and claimed in the Patent 2 0 5 5' issued to me on Oct. 12, 1937, and also illustrated. descr bed and claimed in my corln" l c ti n Serial No. 190.888. filed Feb. 17. 1938. However, for purposes of this application 9. general description of the switch will be given.

A pin 50 is carried by the housing 40. Upon this pin there is pivotally supported a movable frame 5|, in the outer, free edge of which are provided two V-shaped notches 52 and 53. Two leaf spring members 54 and 55 are secured to opposite edges of this frame, these leaf spring members supporting the movable contacts 56 and 51 respectively of the control switch. The leaf spring members are secured to the frame at their lower ends, as shown in the Fig. 3. Integral with these respective leaf spring members are spring portions 58 and 59 biased to urge said members in one direction or the other by having their free ends seated in the V-shaped notches 52 and 53 respectively, the biasing force of said portions depending in their direction upon the position of the frame 5|. A stop 60, formed on the insulating portion 4| of the housing, limits the movement of the resilient spring blade 55 in its movement away from its cooperating stationary contact 41. A tie bar 6|, provided between the free ends of the resilient spring blade members 54 and 55, is so constructed and arranged that it will limit the movement of the contact carrying spring blade 54 away from its cooperating stationary contact 46. A coil spring 62, interposed between a clamp 63 carried by the housing and a projection 64 on the pivoted frame 5|, yieldably urges the frame 5| in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3. Under the effect of this spring, as it tends to move the frame 5| in a counterclockwise direction, the spring blade portions 58 and 59 are so biased that they will tend to urge the spring blades 54 and 55 respectively toward the right or in a clockwise direction so that the blade which carries movable contact 51 is urged against its insulating stop 60 and the blade which carries movable contact 56 is also urged in its clockwise direction, this movement being limited, however, by the tie bar 6| interposed between the blades 55 and 54. In this position the movable contacts 56 and 51 of the control switch are disengaged from .their cooperating stationary contacts 46 and 41. The switch is so constructed, however, that when a force is applied to the pivoted frame 5| to move it clockwise upon its pivot pin 50 in opposition to the effect of the coil spring 62, the biasing spring portions 58 and 59 are shifted to exert a force upon their respective spring blades 54 and 55 to urge them toward the left as regardsFig. 3, or in a counterclock wise direction, these spring blades shifting and simultaneously causing engagement of their respective contacts 56 and 51 with their respective cooperating stationary contacts 46 and 41, as shown in the Fig. 3. The fulcrum points of the respective spring biasing portions 58 and 59, on the pivoted frame 5|, are in such a position of alignment between their respective movable contacts 56 and 51 and the pivotal pin 50, so that as the frame 5| is moved from its full contactmaking position, as shown in Fig. 3, toward the left or counterclockwise, the movable contact 51, carried by spring blade 55, will first be disengaged from its stationary contact 41, then. upon continued movement of the frame 5| in said counterclockwise direction, the disengagement of movable contact 56 from its stationary contact 46 will result. Thus it may be said that the control switch, used in the present instance, comprises a toggle switch having two separate sets of cooperating contacts, operation of the switch to close the contacts resulting in a simultaneous closing of both sets of contacts, while a reverse operation of the switch, to open the contacts, results in a successive opening of the separate sets of contacts, that is, one set of contacts, namely the contacts 41 and 51 will be first disengaged and thereafter the second set of contacts 48 and 56 will be disengaged.

This type of switchis used to control the circuits of the starting motor, which motor is designated as a whole in the Fig, 11 by the numeral and which comprises the starting winding 1| and the running winding 12. It will be seen that win this'circuit diagram of Fig. 11, that the starting winding H is connected through the lead 13 with the terminal 45, which, as has been'deto open the first set of contacts of the control scribed heretofore, provides the stationary contact 41 adapted to be engaged. by the movable contact 51 of the control switch. The running winding 12 of the motor is connected through a lead 14 with the terminal 44, which, as has been described, provides the stationary contact 45, cooperating with the movable contact 55 of the control switch.

- end of a lever 83 which is pivoted at 84 on a strap I8I carried by the housing 40. A flexible lead or pigtail 85 is in electrical connection with mal running position so that the second set of the adjustable screw 82a for anchoring the element 80 to the insulating block .82 carried by the lever 83. This pigtail 85 is also in electrical connection with the stationary terminal 42, provided on the insulating portion 4| of the housing. Thus the lead 81, which may be termed the power line and which is electrically connected to the terminal 42 as shown in diagrammatic view Fig. 11, is connected also to the element 80, which, as has been described, is anchored to the pivoted frame SI of the control switch. Therefore this one side of the power line, or' the conductor 81, is in electrical connection with the frame 5| of the switch and because movable contact plates 54 and 55 are also connected with the frame, consequently movable contacts 55 and 51 carried by the arms 54 and 55 respectively, are also in electrical connection with the power line 81. The other power line 88 is connected with the starting and running windings H and 12 respectively at the point 80, this power line 88 also being, connected with the light switch terminal 43, through lead 90.

From the aforegoing it may be seen that when the control switch is moved to its circuit-closing position, at which time its two sets of contacts 45-55 and 4151 are simultaneously closed, circuits through the starting winding H and the running winding 12 are simultaneously completed and thus the electric motor will start to drive the refrigerating apparatus.

Under starting conditions a. heavy surge of current flows through these windings. After the motor has started it is unnecessary to maintain a circuit through its starting winding. In the present invention the element 80 which forms a mechanical connection between the pivoted lever 83 and the pivoted switch arm 5I, also serves as a thermo-electric responsive device, a heavy surge of current flowing therethrough causing said element 80 to become heated and thus expand, and this expansion permits the spring 82 to become effective to actuate the pivoted switch frame 5| counterclockwise sufficiently previously been described as including the movable contact 51 and stationary contact 41, and

inasmuch as these contacts are the ones that complete the circuit through the starting winding 1 I, the initial movement of the control switch, under the effect of spring 52, will thus open the starting circuit of the .motor. After the motor is running normally and its starting winding is out of the circuit, the current flow under these normal conditions through the element 80 will not cause it to heat up sufllciently to expand any more.v Consequently the spring 52 is held inoperative and will'not, under normal running conditions, actuate-the pivoted frame 5| in a counterclockwise direction, as regards Fig. 3, to eifect opening of the second set of contacts, namely 45 and 55, which complete the circuit through .the running winding of the electric motor. However, if for any reason the motor'should I be stalled or overloaded, an increased heating up of the element 80, due to such overload will result, causing a further expansion thereof and thus permitting the spring 52 to again move the switch frame 5| counterclockwise beyond the norcontacts 45 and 55 will be disengaged, thus completely breaking the circuit through the running winding of the electric motor and thereby rendering the electric motor completely inoperative. Thus it will be seen that this control switch not only provides a switch adapted to disconnect the starting winding after the motor has attained a suflicient speed for normal running, but it also provides an overload protective device. By completely breaking the circuit through the motor under overload conditions it is protected against any damage or burning out due to such overload.

The element 80 may be termed a thermoelectric responsive device, for, as the current flow therethrough increases, said device will become heated and expand and permit the spring 52 to actuate the switch to open circuit connections and, on the other hand, when thecurrent flow through said element remains normal, it will hold the switch in the proper position for normal running conditions in which the starting circuit is opened and only the running circuit through the switch is maintained.

As has been stated in the paragraph "3 of the preamble, a second' switch, termed the light switch is provided in the housing of the device.

This second switch is entirely independent of the "control switch just described. "Its operation controls the electric lamp 3 contained within the socket 35 and provided for purposes of illuminating the storage compartment 24 of the refrigerator. This switch comprises a resilient spring blade I00 having three s ring fingers, the central one of which, IOI, carries a contact I 02 and is comparatively longer than the two spring .flngers I03 and I04 positioned onopposite sides The manual control device comprises a rod IIO which extends from the interior of the casing 40 to the outside of said casing, its outer end having the control button II I secured thereto. This control button III is completely shown in the Figs. 3 and 10, the button being provided with an indicator arrow H2. A spring I I3 interposed between the button and the housing 40 tends to urge the rod IIII so that its shoulder H4 is normally in engagement with the inner surface of the housing 40, said shoulder forming a stop for the outward, longitudinal movement of the rod H0. The inner end of the rod IIII has a head iii of insulating material secured thereto. The outer surface of said head H5, adjacent the end of the rod I ll to which it is attached, has a'tapering portion I I6. When in normal position this tapering portion Iii engages the V-shaped end II" of the light switch spring blade so'that this end is tilted, urging its contact I82 on finger IOI into engagement with the contact III provided on the inner end of the terminal 43 which, as has been described, is carried by the insulating portion H of the housing. If, however, a push is exerted upon the control button III, urging the rod I I inwardly against the effect of spring H3, the tapering portion Iii of the head II! is moved out of engagement with the V-shaped end II" of the light switch blade, thus permitting the fingers I03 and I04 to flex the contact carrying arm IOI out of engagement with the contact I". Inasmuch as the unit is mounted in the path of the refrigerator door 22, as has previously been described, said door when closed will engage the control button III to move the rod IIU inwardly and thus actuate the light switch to break the circuit through the light. Inversely' when the dood is opened, the rod I III and its button I I I may terminal for the. bulb comprises a ring I 20 se- I cured in the socket, this ring being formed integral with the terminal 42 as shown in Fig. 3 and being secured to the insulating portion H of the housing by the screw III. Fig. 3 shows also how the pigtail connection 85, having its one end electrically connected to the anchorage screw 82:: securing the thermo-electric element 80 to the block 82, has its other end electrically connected to terminal 42 beneath the screw III.

The manual control device comprises a rod I III having one end extending outside, the housing .and carrying the control button III. This rod also is provided at its innerend with a head II! of insulating material. Referring to Fig. 3 in particular. this head II! is provided with a recess lit, the recess being rectangular in shape as shown in the cross section Fig. 8. Any suitable conformation may be used as long as flat surfaces are provided for the purpose to be described.

The housing has a strap I lI extending across t and providing a fulcrum upon which the lever 83 is pivotally supported as at 84. As has been mentioned. to one end of this lever 83 is secured an insulating block l2, carrying adjustable screw means 82a for anchoring the thermo-electric responsive element to said block. A stud I34 is threadedly received by the lever 83 on the side of its fulcrum point 84 opposite the block B2. The outer end of this stud I34 is slightly recessed, the opposite end having a head portion I35 conforming to the shape of the recess ill! in the insulating head I I5. Thus the stud I34 is mechanically connected to the head II! so that when the head H5 is rotated the stud I34 must necessarily rotate therewith. However, the head Il! may be moved longitudinally relatively to the stud I34 because its threaded portion is of smaller diameter than the transverse dimension of the recess ISII. From this it may be seen that the manual control device II. may be moved longitudinally relatively to the stud I34 without moving it in any manner, thereby permitting the head III of said manual control device to control the light switch blade IIII by opening and closing of the refrigerator door, as has been described.

In the paragraph "E" of the preamble, a thermo-pressure responsive device is described, this thermo-pressure responsive device being provided for the purpose of actuating the control switch in accordance with temperature changes within the refrigerator. Any suitable thermo-pressure responsive device may be used for this purpose. However, in the present invention applicant has shown this device in the form of a bellows I supported within a cup-shaped member Iii at-,

tached to the housing "in any suitable manner. The top plate I" of the bellows is secured to the cup-shaped member III so as to be immovable relative thereto. The lower plate I54 of the bellows, however, is movable relative to the housing I5 I. A spring, not shown, is provided within the bellows, tending to expand it. Secured to the bottom plate I54 of the bellows is anipple I" having a pointed outer end I" seating in the outer recessed end of the stud I34 which is threadedly carried by the lever 83. A collar I52 threaded to the housing 40 provides anadjustable stop or abutment for the bottom plate I54 of the bellows to limit the expansible movement of said bellows. This collar I52 may be moved to vary the position of this abutment. A screw III is supported in the housing and provides an adjustable stop for the upward tilting movement of the left arm of lever 88 as regards Fig. 3. The nipple I5! engaging the threaded stud I34 thus provides an abutment for said threaded stud so that when it is rotated it will move or tilt the lever 83 instead of itself moving relatively to said lever.

This thermo-pressure responsive device is so constructed and arranged that its bellows portion I" will contract in response to lowering temperatures within the refrigerator, thus moving the nipple I" upwardly in a direction away from the threaded stud I34, while on the other hand in response to increasing temperatures within the refrigerator said bellows will ex and, urging its nipple I" toward and against the threaded stud I" to tilt the left end of the lever 83 downwardly.

Various cycles in the operation of anplicants control device will now be described. In the diagrammatic Fig. 14 the system is shown in its normal "oil" position. Here the refrigerator. being comparatively warm, will cause the bellows I50 to be fully expanded so that its lower plate I54 engages and rests upon the adjustable abutment I52. Lever I3 is tilted so that its left end is in engagement with the adjustable stop screw I51 and is farthest positioned from the opposite tor, he will open the door 22 permitting the manual control device rod vl N to move longitudinally outwardly under the effect of spring 3 so that the control button moves away from the housing of the device. This causes the insulating head 5 of the rod 8 to move longitudinally relatively to the screw threaded stud I34 and in so moving the tapered portion 6 of said insulating head I I5 will engage and move the spring contact I88 of the light switch so that its contact element |82 on finger IN is caused to engage the contact 1 connected to terminal 43. Now the circuit is closed through the illuminating light bulb 34 in socket 35 as follows: from the power line-81 to the terminal 42 forming also the outer ring terminal for the lamp socket, thence through the lamp to the central terminal of said lamp, engaging central terminal 99 of the lamp socket, thence to the contact I82 of the light switch to its cooperating contact 1 which is electrically connected to the terminal 43, thence through lead 98 to the opposite side of the power line 88; The interior of the refrigerator is now illuminated.

To initiate the operation of the refrigerator the user now turns the control button I clockwise as regards Figs. 1 and 14, or to the right as regards Figs. 3 and 10. This turning of the control button to the right will likewise cause a turning of the threaded stud I34 to the right by its threaded engagement with the lever 83'.

. Due to thethreaded stud I34 engaging nipple I55 of the bellows, threaded stud us will not move longitudinally relatively to the manual control device, but will, in rotating relative to the lever 83, cause it to be tilted left end downwardly thus raising its right end and exerting a pull upon the thermo-electric responsive element 88, anchored to the right end of the lever 83 through the insulating block 82. This tilting of the lever 83 continues until its left end engages the stop I68 provided by the. housing. Tilting lever 83 and exerting a pull upon the element 88, now acting merely as a mechanical connection between the lever 83 and the pivoted frame 5| of the control switch, will cause a movement of the control switch frame 5| in a clockwise direction as regards Figs. 3 and 4. At apredetermined point of this movement of the frame 5| clockwise, the biasing spring portions 58 and 59 thereof will be positioned, suddenly to throw their respective contact-carrying blades 54 and 55 in a counterclockwise direction as regards Fig. 3, so that the movable contacts 56-and 51 carried by said blades 54 and 55 respectively, will simultaneously engage their respective stationary contacts 46 and 41. This position of the lever 83 and itsblock 82 as well as frame 5| of the control switch and its movable contact blades 54 and 55. is illustrated in the diagrammatic Fig. 12 showing the movable contacts 56 and 51 enga ing their respective stationary contacts 46 and 41. Now the circuits through the starting and running windings 1| and 12 respectively of the motor 18 are completed in the following manner: Current flowing from the main power line 81 enters terminal 42, then flows through pigtail connection 85 to the thermo-electric responsive element 88, thence to the movable frame 5| of the control switch, from which the current will enter both movable contact spring blades 54 and 55 to the respective movable contacts 56 and 51 carried thereby. Current flowing from contact 56 will enter its cooperating stationary contact 46, flow through the terminal 44 to the running winding 12 which is connected to the opposite power line 88 at the point 89. Current flowing through movable contact 51 will enter its coop.-

erating stationary contact 41, flow to the terminal 45, thence through the lead connections to the starting winding 1|, which, like the running winding 12 is connected to the opposite power line'88 at the point 88.

A heavy surge of current flow through the motor will now result and the motor will start to rotate. After a predetermined interval of this heavy starting current through the motor and particularly through the thermo-electric responsive element 88, this element 88 will become heated, such heat resulting in an expansion or lengthening of said element. 88 lengthens it permits spring 62 to become effective to move the contact carrying frame 5| of the. control switch counterclockwise as regards Fig. 3. It may at this point be mentioned, that the element 80 is so designed that its expansive temperature, where movement of the frame 5| is permitted in a counterclockwise direction, is reached only after the motor has operated a predetermined interval, sumcient to attain a speed for ordinary running purposes. Now as the spring becomes effectiv to move the contact frame 5| counterclockwise, a point in the travel of this frame 5| will be reached where the biasing spring 58 will exert a force upon the blade spring 55 to urge it clockwise, moving the contact 51 thereon out of engagement with its stationary contact and against the stop 58 provided by the insulating portion 4| of the housing. Now the starting winding 1| is rendered ineffective for. its circuit is broken by the separation of contacts 51 and 41. Under ordinary running conditions the current flow through the thermo-- electric responsive element 88 from the running winding 12 is sufdciently low so that said thermoelectric responsive element 88 will not become sufficiently heated to cause further expansion and permit the spring 62 to continue moving the frame 5| counterclockwise, resulting in a separation of the contacts 46-56 of the running winding. V

The theme-electric responsive element 88 not only acts to operate the switch frame 5| to'render the starting winding ineffective during the running operation of the refrigerator, but it also provides an overload protective device which, in

case the electric motor becomes overloaded or stalls, .will break all its circuit connections, thereby protecting it against damage or completely burning out .due to such overload. If under any circumstances the motor should be stalled or become overloaded, the excess current flow through the element 88 will cause it to become further heated, resulting in a further expansion thereof which will permit spring 62 to move the frame 5| counterclockwise sumcient to permit biasing spring 58 to reach a point in Y which it will suddenly urge its contact carrying blade 54 in a clockwise direction to move its As this element fiow through the electric motor.

contact 58 out of engagement with the cooperating contact 46. This movement clockwise of the blade, carrying contact 56, is limited by the tie bar 8| interposed between the contact blades 55 and 64. Thus when both contacts 51 and It are out of engagement with their respective contacts l1 and 46, no current is directed to or may Naturally, if such a condition is permitted to exist without attention, the element 80 will cool off, contract and against the effect of spring U will again move frame clockwise, resulting in a simultaneous engagement of contacts 56 and II with their respective contacts 46 and 41. However, if the overload condition still exists, thermo-electric responsive element will again'become heated, expand andpermit spring 82 tomove frame Ii counterclockwise, again resulting in a successive breaking of the contact elements "-41 and 56- and a complete disconnection of the electric motor. This of. course will berepeated until the proper care has been taken to remove the cause 'of the excessive current fiow.

As has been said heretofore, the control switch is actuated in accordance with the temperature within the refrigerator by a thermo-pressure responsive device which includes the bellows I". This bellows contracts with decreasing temperatures and expands with increasing temperatures. In a normal position as shown in Fig. 14, the bellows is greatly expanded, resting upon the abutment collar 152. After the refrigerator has 'been operating a sufilcient length of time to reduce the temperature within the storage compartment 24 of the refrigerator, the bellows will start to contract and move upwardly so that its bottom plate I together with the nipple I attached thereto .will be moved upwardly in a direction away from the lever 83. Spring 2 exerting a pull on the control switch plate i, to which the theme-electric responsive element OI is attached, will consequently exert a pull on this element '0, said pull being transmitted to the lever 83, causing it to tilt to follow the upward movement of the nipple III. At a predetermined point this tilting of the lever '3 downwardly at its right end regarding Fig. 3 will permit the spring 62 to move contact carrying frame of the control switch. At a predetermined point of the movement of the frame 5| clockwise in response to the pull by element 80 and lever 83, it will cause simultaneous shifting of contacts N and 55, carried by said frame, into simultaneous engagement with their respective I shows the various element in the normal run- I of the control switch sufficiently to cause disengagement of the movable contact Ii of said switch from its cooperating stationary contact II and thus break the running circuit of the motor, terminating refrigeration operation. It will be understood that the starting circuit across the contacts 41-" has previously been broken after the starting of the motor has been completed, as has been described heretofore. Now

' the refrigerating apparatus has been stopped and refrigeration terminated, for the temperature within the storage compartment 24 of the re- 7 fri'gerator has reached the predetermined low degree at which the thermo-pressure responsive device has been set.

As the temperature in the storage compart meat. 24 of the refrigerator rises and when it reaches a predetermined high degree, the bellows, expanding with such a rise in temperature, will cause a downward movement of its bottom plate Ill and its attached nipple I", causing tilting of the lever I! by engaging the screw stud I thereon so that its right end as regards Fig. 3 is again raised, exerting a pull on the thermoelectric responsive element 80, now merely acting as a mechanical connection between lever ll and the movable contact carrying frame ii ning position.

In the paragraph "F" of the preamble the manual control device is defined. This device has a three-fold purpose, as follows (1) When it is moved longitudinally relatively to the screwthreaded stud I it has no effect whatsoever upon the control switch, but this manner of operating the manual control actuates the light switch to bring the illuminating electric light bulb ll of the refrigerator into and out of its circuit with the opening and closing of the refrigerator door respectively. (2) when the manual control is actuated in another manner, or more specifically when it is rotated from its normal. "of!" position its first function is to turn the screw-threaded stud I, which in turn tilts the lever I3 from its normal position as shown in Fig. 11 to another position as shown in Figs. 12 and .13. In thisposition the lever 83 has exerted a pull upon the thermo-electric responsive element ll, acting merely as a mechanical connection between the lever and framell of the control switch, to effect movement of the frame II so that the movable contacts thereof engage their respective stationary contacts as shown in Fig. 12. Thus the initial rotation of the control button Ill initiates refrigeration operation by acting through the lever I3 and the thermo-electric responsive element 80 as a mechanical connection to actuate the control switch.

When it is desired to lower the range of temperatures within the refrigerator, that is, when lower temperatures are to be provided within the refrigerator storage compartment 24, the manual control device is rotated beyond its normal starting position so that the threaded stud I is rotated in the lever '3, now engaging the stop I", which will cause the stud to move upwardlyin the lever and consequently raising the nipple II! of the bellows to compress said bellows. Thus the thermo-pressure responsive deviceisadiustedsothatitwillactuatethe control switch and maintain a lower temperature within the storage compartment 24 of the refrigerator. Being partially compressed and so held, it will naturally start the refrigerator operation at a lower temperature within the panded, and thus the refrigeration operation will be initiated at a lower temperature within the box than if a normal adjustment of the thermopressure responsive device were made at which the bellows is fully expanded.

From this description it may readily be seen that the manual control device is adapted mechanically to actuate the control switch, acting through the thermo-electric responsive element, which in this instance provides merely a mechanical connection between the manual control device and the control switch. It also may be actuated to adjust the thermo-pressure responsive' device so that it will maintain lower temperatures within the storage compartment 24 chanically connected with the control switch through the thermo-electric responsive element acting as a mechanical connection and is adapted to actuate said control switch in accordance with temperature conditions within the refrigerator compartment 24.

The thermo-electric responsive element 80, acting at times as a mechanical connection for the manual control device and the thermopressure responsive device is adapted also individually to act as a thermo-electric responsive element in response to current flow therethrough v to control starting of the electric motor and during normal running operation provides an over-- load protective device which will completely break all circuitsto the electric motor when it is overloaded or becomes stalled, under which circumstances excessive current iiow will tend to burn it up or damage it.

Consequently it may readily be said that applicant has provided a control device for an A electric refrigerator, various elements of the de vice being so constructed. and arranged that several of them, for instance the manual control device and the thermo-pressure responsive device will act mechanically, through another, viz: the thermo-electric responsive device. to effect their control over thecontrol switch. Each element, however, is functionally independent of the other, for each can in its own way actuate the control switch to control refrigerator operation without depending upon the peculiar function of the other. 'However, all depend upon the manual means to start operation initially.

The light switch and socket are not-necessary elements in the refrigerator control device, for the manual control device, the thermo-prese sure responsive device and the thermo-electric responsive device all could act in the desired manner upon the control switch without provision of the light switch and its socket. However, inasmuch as an illuminating lamp within the refrigertor is highly desirable, applicant has by ingenious construction combined elements necessary to support and control the illuminating light bulb with the elements of the refrigerator control device.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed'is as follows: I

1. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric means for controlling the switch; and thermo-pressure means operatively connected to the thermo-electric means for moving it bodily to control the switch.

2. A circuit controlling .device comprising in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric means for controlling the switch; thermo-pressure means operatively connected to the thermo-electric means and adapted to move it bodily to control the switch; and manual means for moving the thermo-electric means to operate the switch.

3. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric means for controlling the switch; theme-pressure means operatively connected to the thermocombination, a switch; a thermo-electric means for controlling the switch; thermo-pressure means operatively connected to the thermo-' electric means for moving it to control the switch; and manual means engaging the thermo-pressure means and adapted to actuate the switch by moving thethermo-electric means; v

5. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric means; a manually operable means, a thermo-pressure means, a membermechanically connecting the manually operable means and the thermo-pressure means to the thermo-electric means for moving the last mentioned means manually or in response to varying pressures to actuate the switch.

6 A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric device; a manual device; and a thermo-pressure device, one of said devices being anchored to the switch, the other two of saiddevices cooperating with each other to move the said one device bodily to control'the switch.

7. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a thermo-electric means;

and a thermo-pressure means, one of said means being directly anchored to the switch, the other means being mechanically connected to said one means and being adapted to move said one means bodily to control the switch.

8. A device according to claim '7 in which a manually operable member is adapted to move both of the means to control the switch.

9. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a pivoted lever; a thermo electric responsive means connected betweenthe lever and the switch for controlling the switch; and thermo-pressure means adapted to actuate the lever and bodily move the thermo-electric responsive means to control the switch.

10. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a pivoted lever; a thermoelectric responsive element providing the sole connection between the switch and said lever and being adapted to control said switch in accordance with current flow therethrough; a thermo-pressure device providing an adjustable abutment for said lever and adapted to actuate the lever to effect control of the switch; and manual means for adjusting said thermo-pressure device and effecting manual control of the switch.

11. A circuit controlling device comprising in combination, a switch; a pivotally supported lever; thermo-electric responsive means operatively connecting the lever with the switch and adapted to efiect opening and closing of said switch-in accordance with the flow of current through said means; means adjustably carried by the lever; a thermo-pressure device engaging said last mentioned means and adapted to tilt the lever and efiect actuation of the switch through the thermo-electric responsive means; and a manually operated member engaging the said last mentioned means and adapted to adjust switches; a thermo-electric responsive means adapted, in response to current flow therethrough, toopen and close one of said switches; a thermo-pressure device adapted to act through the thermo-electric means to control said one switch; and means manually operable in diflerent manners and adapted when operated in one manner to act through the thermo-electric means to open and close one switch and also to adjust the thermo-pressure device and when operated in the other manner to open and close the other switch.

13. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, two separate and independent switches; a thermo-electric responsive means connected to the one switch and adapted to open and close it in accordance with the flow or current therethrough; a pivoted lever having one end of the thermo-responsive means secured thereto; a stud threadedly engaging said lever; a thermo-pressure device engaging the stud and adapted to control the said one switch by acting through the lever and thermo-electric means; and a manually operable member connected to the stud so as to be capable oi rotating it but being movable longitudinally relatively thereto, said member when rotated, controlling the said one switch through the lever and thermo-electric means and also adjusting the thermo-pressure device to vary its control of the said switch, said member when moved longitudinally, opening and closing the other oi the two separate switches.

14. A circuit controlling device comprising, in

combination, means adapted to close two separate circuits simultaneously and to open said circuits sequentially; thermo-electric means adapted, in response to current flow therethrough, to actuate the first mentioned means to open or close said separate circuits; and thermo-pressure means, acting through said thermo-electric means, for controlling said separate circuit making and breaking means in accordance with temperature changes.

15. A circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, two separate sets of cooperating movable and stationary contacts; a pivoted irame supporting the movable contacts and adapted to actuate them simultaneously when the frame moves in one direction and sequentially when said frame moves in the opposite direction; thermo-electric means adapted, in response to current flow therethrough, to actuate the frame in said opposite direction; resilient means adapted to actuate the frame in said one direction; and thermo-pressure means acting mechanically through the thermo-electric means for operating the frame in accordance with temperature changes and in said opposite direction.

16. A' circuit controlling device comprising, in combination, two separate sets of cooperating movable and stationary contacts; a pivoted frame carrying the movable contacts being adapted, when moving in one direction, to actuate the movable contacts simultaneously to engage their respective stationary contacts and when moving in the other direction, to cause said movable contacts sequentially to disengage their respective stationary contacts; resilient means urging the frame in the contact disengaging direction; thermo-electric means normally opposing said resilient means and holding said frame in contactengaging position, said thermo-electric means being adapted, in response to current flow therethrough to render the resilient means effective sequentially to disengage the sets 01' contacts; and thermo-pressure means, acting mechanically through said thermo-electric means to actuate the frame to control the sets or contacts in accordance with temperature variations.

CALVIN J. WERNER. 

